Merlijn Kamerling, aged 28, has been appointed as an ambassador for the international Movember campaign, which aims to eliminate taboos surrounding mental health, particularly among men. Initially perceived as a simple beard-growing challenge, the campaign has evolved into a global movement that facilitates open discussions about feelings and psychological well-being. [1]
Kamerling’s personal experience illustrates the severity of the risk posed by long-term emotional repression. The actor went through a period where he adopted avoidance mechanisms such as video games, substance use, and nightlife—actions intended to numb the pain and loss—which led to an identity crisis and a loss of direction in life. [1]
The turning point came in 2019, when a direct question regarding the death of his father, renowned actor Antonie Kamerling, who passed away when Merlijn was 11 years old, forced him to admit that he had never processed his grief. The following year was described by him as the most difficult, marked by quitting addictions, panic attacks, and battling depression, but also by maturing through accepting the grieving process. [1]
Currently, Kamerling promotes a balanced approach to masculinity, rejecting the idea that emotional strength requires silence. He combines his interest in sports and social life with mindfulness practices, such as meditation and active rest, encouraging others to find their own methods for processing emotions, whether through writing, therapy, or simple conversations with close friends. His father's death at a young age had blocked his ability to cope with loss. Merlijn developed an automatism of ignoring pain and avoiding discussions about trauma, believing that if he pretended it didn't exist, he wouldn’t have to confront it, progressively isolating himself from family and reality. The years following the death were marked by constant avoidance of emotional reality. Kamerling admits he partying while his friends were developing professionally and personally, eventually losing touch with himself and forgetting how to move forward in life, seeking continuous distractions through gaming, parties, and other forms of escapism. The brutal question asked in 2019 reminded him that nearly a decade had passed since he moved to Amsterdam and that he had not processed any of what he felt back then. Realizing how much unchecked confusion was holding him back, he decided to confront his pain through active processing and documenting his experiences. Recovery was not smooth; shifting from addiction to direct confrontation triggered panic attacks and severe depressive symptoms. However, perseverance through this emotional storm allowed him to understand the importance of managing pain correctly. His current view of grief is mature: there is no fixed timeframe for processing loss. For Merlijn, the path toward healing and personal development did not begin until a decade after his father’s disappearance. Although becoming more open, Kamerling emphasizes that there is no universal method for communicating feelings. He acknowledges the difficulty of verbalization and shares how writing became the pivot of his transformation, helping him communicate effectively with his mother and initiate deeper dialogues. For balance and modern emotional management, Merlijn relies on structure, healthy nutrition, and physical exercise. Meditation and dedicated recovery breaks are key elements. He also accepts that sometimes he declines serious conversations, promising to revisit them later. In his social environment, he observes young people’s reluctance to discuss certain topics. He highlights the importance of patience, noting that therapy was not immediately helpful for him after his father’s death precisely because he wasn’t ready. His message to friends is clear: he will be there for them when they are ready. Stigmatization around talking about mental health is deeply rooted in traditional masculine norms. Kamerling argues that the need to appear strong and invulnerable is an illusion; truly courageous is the act of being vulnerable and honest about one’s feelings. He dismantles the guise of a spiritual guru, asserting that one can enjoy oneself, go to the gym, and appreciate social life without being hypocritical about mental health. Compatibility between an active lifestyle and inner reflection is possible. The Movember campaign offers a real opportunity to initiate conversations, using sports challenges as natural excuses. Although not an experienced runner, he joins his friends, converting shared effort into a moment of emotional connection. Personal evolution continues. Merlijn appreciates his current identity and reflects on the need to relax the obsession with constant perfectionism, allowing for more joy and relaxation. Practical participation in the campaign involves growing a mustache for November. Although the visual experiment revealed an unconventional image—similar to a child without a beard or an incomplete version of himself—he adopted the posture of volunteering for the cause, viewing the appearance with humor and acceptance. [1]
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